Half to j



(No Model.)

H. CUMMINGS. SELF SUBPGRTING STAGE.

` Patented M NITED vSTATES ATENT ferien.

HUGH CUMMINGS, OF KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOB. OF ONE- HALF TO J. B. OUMMINGS, OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-SUPPORTING STAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,217, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed July 2, 1896. Serial No. 597,871. (No model.)

To all whom, it' puny concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH CUMMINcs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kinston, in the county of Lenoir and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Supporting Stages; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in self-supporting staging especially designed for use by mechanics in the erection of buildings; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and strong construction adapted to rest upon the ground and to be temporarily connected with the building, so as to be self-sustaining.

With these ends in view my invention consists of a series (two or more) of upright frames each consisting of a pair of posts and cross-bars at suitable intervals, a series of arms pivotally attached to each frame and having hooks adapted for insertion between the lapped edges of the siding of a dwelling or other building, and a plank-like platform adapted to rest on the cross-bars of the upright frames, all as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a perspective View of my stag-l ing, showing a portion of the siding of a frame building. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the upright frames.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings, referring to which- A B O designate a series of upright frames, and D is the board or plank that forms the platform on which the workman may stand while engaged in work on a building.

My improved staging is designed princi` pally to be used by carpenters in applying the siding to frame buildings, but it may be used advantageously by painters and other workmen on frame and other buildings. I may employ only two of the upright frames if the side of the building is not too long and the proper length of platform is available, but three or more frames and two or more lengths of platform may be used if the conditions of work demand.

Each upright frame consists of a pair of posts a b and a series of cross-rails c d e, of any desired number, and which are rigidly and securely fastened to the posts at suitable distances from each other, according to the conditions of work. The cross-rails are arranged in pairs, and the rails of each pair are applied or fitted to opposite sides of the posts a b and united by throughboltsf or by nails or other suitable fasteners in order that the end of the platform may, if desired, rest on one rail or other of the pair if the platform is not long enough or the frame is adjusted in such position that the platform cannot extend between the posts. The frame is strengthened by the diagonal braces g g', secured against'the sides of the posts and between the cross-rails, said diagonal braces being so arranged as to permit the platform to pass between the posts and rest upon one cross-rail or the other of the series of rails forming part of the tongue.

E F G are a series of arms which are pivotally attached, as by bolts, at e to the crossrails of each upright frame, and these arms are adapted to be turned to positions where they extend beyond the frame or to fold alongside of the cross-rails, and thereby arranged out of the way when it is desired to transport or store the frames. Each foldable arm is provided with a retainer H, which consists, preferably, of an angular metallic plate forming the shank h and prong h. The shank h is securely fastened to the arm in position for the prong h to extend beyond'the end of the arm, and said prong h extends in an upward direction, so that when the arm is turned outward and upward the prong h may be thrust or inserted between the lapped edges IOO their pivots to enable the prongs 7L of the retainers to be thrust between the boards of the siding. The upright frames are now braced by fastening the cross-braces I I' to the outside posts, after which the platform.

D is thrust between the posts to rest upon the cross-rails o, CZ, or e of said frames.

It is thought the operation and advantages of my improved staging will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The self-supportin g stage herein shown and described comprising a series of independent upright frames each having a pair of posts IIUGII CUM MI NGS.

\Vitnesses:

J. I3. CUMMINGS, JAS. E. DUPREE. 

